Parents will be allowed to take paid child care leave at the same time starting Feb. 28, according to a law revision approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.

A working parent whose spouse is already on paid family leave will also be able to take paid parental leave, according to the revised Act on Equal Employment and Support for Work-Family Reconciliation.

A clause that bans parents from simultaneously taking parental leave for the same child has been removed in the revised law.

Starting from Jan. 1, employees can take days off to take care of their direct family members. They can take up to 10 days off to take care of their direct family members who are ill or were in accidents. The scope of “direct family” has been expanded to include grandparents and grandchildren.

Next year, employees will also be able to apply for reduced working hours to take care of their family or their own health, and to prepare to retire or study, in accordance with a revision approved in August.

The flexible working hour system will be implemented at public organizations and private companies with more than 300 employees next year. The system will expand to include businesses with less than 30 employees in 2022.

(laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)